Addressing reporters for the first time this season on Wednesday, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t offer up any particularly juicy quotes when he was inevitably asked about his contract situation. Antetokounmpo, who can sign a five-year super-max extension with Milwaukee before the season begins, said he’s letting agent Alex Saratsis handle talks with the team.
“I’m not focused on that,” Antetokounmpo said, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “I know my agent, Alex, and (Bucks GM) Jon Horst and the Bucks ownership are focusing on those discussions, but I’m just trying to focus on myself. How I can get better, how I can help my teammates get better, how can we be ready Saturday to play our first preseason game.”
As we detailed earlier today, a five-year super-max deal for Antetokounmpo would start in 2021/22 and is worth a projected $228MM+. He could sign that extension on or before December 21. If he doesn’t sign it this month, he’d be eligible for the same deal with the Bucks if he waits until free agency in 2021. During the season, he can’t sign a super-max contract, but could sign a shorter-term extension that would start at 30% of the cap instead of 35%.
Antetokounmpo’s contract situation is arguably the NBA’s biggest storyline, though he did make a valiant effort today to downplay the focus on a potential extension.
“I know this is big for the City of Milwaukee, (the) NBA world, and (the) media world,” Giannis said, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (Twitter link). “But I’m a private person.”
Antetokounmpo added that he hoped reporters’ focus would be on basketball going forward, since his answers about his contract “are going to be the same,” Spears notes.
The two-time Most Valuable Player also said today that he doesn’t believe the Bucks are in a “championship or bust” situation in 2020/21.
“Obviously, everybody wants to win a championship, I want to win a championship,” Giannis said, according to Woodyard. “There’s nobody that wants to win a championship more than me. I can guarantee you that. But there’s steps to that. You’ve got to keep improving. You’ve got to keep getting better and hopefully we can get there this year.”
Seems like if he really wanted to stay in Milwaukee he would have signed already.
Well if hes truly focused on basketball and letting his agent handle the contract, then wouldnt that automatically mean super max to stay in Milwaukee?
Oof.
Not a typical “I’m staying” quote he’d been giving. Agents like to test the market more often than not.
If there’s negotiating happening, he may not be signing for the full max, whether he stays or goes.
There’s not much negotiating to do. He will get the max deal the Bucks can offer, or someone else.
I think you have to read between the lines he is going to avoid talking about it until he leaves after the season. If he can survive the insanity that will follow him that long.
Seems like more of a distraction not to give an honest answer. Once the truth is out less time for people to use their imagination and come up with crazy theories. If you ask me…
If he’s being offered the super max, what is there for his agent to discuss with the team? Not being snarky, genuinely asking. Is the team allowed to offer him more than the super mad in the way of perks or something?
*super max, not ‘super mad’
Maybe he want the super duper max lol. In reality idk. Seemingly obvious answer is there’s nothing to discuss.
rct He’s most likely just undecided still but doesn’t want to say it publicly. I would be surprised if the holdup is the Bucks not being willing to offer him the contract he wants yet. They need to keep him. If he can deal with the outside noise from the media and fans throughout the year, there’s no reason for him to rush into a long term commitment to the team.
I have no idea. If I’m the Bucks there’s really nothing he asks for that I’d say no to. Take an ownership stake of the Bucks for all I care, just sign the contract lol
This is just speculation, but I imagine there could be some negotiating over how the next 5-6 years will play out if he does sign, especially given the situation Harden (another super-max guy) is in right now.
For instance, they could discuss how much influence Giannis will have in roster moves, whether ownership is willing to pay the tax every year, how the Bucks will handle things if he’s unhappy during the next 5-6 years, etc.
Probably is waiting to see how well the new players mesh with him.
Lol like there’s any chance the questions will be on anything other than his contract status before Dec 21
Educational guess
Sign super max, then Bucks will satisfy Giannis request of trade after two years
Big mistake to trade future Firsts and swaps for Holiday
What’s the verdict? Time to panic in Milwaukee yet?
No. There is no reason to sign in this window.
He wont do Mil that dirty –
Im betting the contract is already signed they are just waiting to drop the news the 22nd to get some extra hype going into opening night….. NBA is a show now and thats not a knock
Theres probably a wink and nod agreement MIL will deal him/ and to where by the end of 23 if he says he wants it behind closed doors…Everybody wins in this sitch and nothing ever has to get nasty
Let the crazies to their crazy “BOOK IT” theories. There is much to work out besides money— like the influence Giannis will have in future roster moves (GM things), schemes (HC things), and options if dissatisfied early (WAG things).
In Milwaukee Giannis can negotiate himself much power, esp since the GM & HC are not currently popular. There is no rush— he can probably get himself more power, and test the new teammates, by waiting to the next window.
This is nuts. The owner is going to give him authority over basketball moves? He’s having a hard enough time with the decisions of his current executives and coach. When he fires them eventually, who is he going to hire who will want their hands heavily tied by the power wielded by Antetokounmpo? Not to mention the contracts of Giannis and Middleton limiting what can be done.
Milwaukee has painted themselves into a corner and Giannis is recognizing how troublesome it looks.
Why not? GA might do just as well. GA’s signature is the crucial one to get.
IDK if he has that ambition or not though.
Hmm, since the max possible offer has long been on the table, what is there to talk about ………. unless, Giannis wants one of those short-term +1 contracts which Lebron made famous.
Or it’s all just hyping things up, he’s the 2-time reigning MVP after all.
If owners are fretting over paying a little tax they shouldn’t be in the game because they are either too cheap or do not have enough revenue from other businesses to cover the extra expense. The Bucks were bought for ca. $600M and are now worth $1.5B six years later. What is a few million in luxury tax compared to the whopper profit that will be made when the team is sold?
The downside to signing now is that he’s locked in.
The downside to waiting is that he could get hurt, perhaps bad enough that he can’t get another big contract.
If he truly doesn’t care about the money (and he’s said that for a while now), than he’s going to wait, right?
He will make more by waiting to next year. His tenure….higher cap. Why should he sign now. Keep pressure on GM to get players. He better be working on his jump shots. Playoffs….pack the zone…make him shoot out side….ah oh.
Taking a shot between 10 ft. and the 3 pt line is an offensive waste unless you can shoot it above 50% which no player can do. NBA averages…less than 10 ft 57%…3 pt 36%…everything else…41%. You fight a losing battle the more outside 2 pt shots you take.
Giannis is all but gone this upcoming summer… Kareem won the only chip in Milwaukee back in the 70s and he demanded a trade to the lakers… nobody stays in Milwaukee!